Carton



June 2, 1925.

A. w. SCOTCHER CARTON Filed Feb. 20-, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Inventor.- efli'imer Wd'coicher, y 2W4 r 1 JuneZ, .1925. 1,540,369

vA. SCOTCH ER CARTON Filed Feb. 20, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 LEE/Eye Patented June 2, 1025.

UNITED STATES ARTHUR W. SCOTCHER, OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY.

o m'ron.

Application filed February To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ARTHUR W. ScorcH- ER, a subject of the King of Great Britain, and a resident of Newark, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented an Improvement in Cartons, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like characters on the drawings representing like parts.

My invention relates to cartons or containers for general use and more particularly aims to provide an improved collapsible or fiat-packing carton adapted for the packaging of fragile articles, such as eggs or the like. As to all common subject matter this application is a continuation of my copending application, Serial No. 714,017, filed May 17 1924.

In the accompanying-drawings illustrating by way of example one embodiment of my invention:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a blank for forming a carton embodying one form of my invention;

Figs. 2 and 3 are respectively plan and end views showing an intermediate stage in the formation of said carton;

Figs. 4 and 5 are respectively plan and end views of the complete carton in. collapsed position as for shipment;

Figs. 6, 7 and 8 are end elevations illustrating successive positions assumed by the carton during the setting up and filling of the same;

Fig. 9 is a horizontal section through the carton on substantially the line 9, 9 of Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is a vertical partial section through the container substantially in the plane indicated by the line 10, 10 of Fig. 9.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the construction of a carton illustrating one embodiment of my invention will be most readily understood by reference first to the blank from which it is formed. A blank suitable for the'purpose is repre sented in Fig. 1. As shown it is rectangular or substantially so and of a width the same as the length of the carton to be formed. Said blank is wholly devoid oftongues, tabs, cut-outs or like irregular formations upon any of itsedges. Consequently there absolutely no wastage of stock, which may be cardboard or other suitable material. In

20, 1925. Serial No. 10,544.

said figure, as well as inFigs. 2 and 4, full lines indicate cuts while dotted lines indicate scores or creases" for folding. Said single blank from which the carton preferably formed comprises a plurality of substantially rectangular, parallel, strips or portions symmetrically, disposed at opposite sides of the vertical median line 10.- Along said line 10 the blank is preferably cut over at least the greater portion of its length and perforated along any remaining portion. At the opposite sides of said line 10 saic one-piece blank includes the strips 1, 1 respectively constituting securing or glue laps. At either side of said laps 1, 1 are the partition platforms or transverse-partition forming members 2, 2. Outside of the latter there follow in order the substantially central longitudinal partition me1nbers 3, 3, the bottom or floor portions 4, .4, the opposite members 5, 5 and the opposed cover members, each of the latter including a main cover portion 6 and a flap or tuck 7 Said various carton portions are defined by scores or creases, indicated by the dotted lines 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 and 16 in that order, reading outwardly from the central line 10 and in opposite directions. I

At the opposite ends of the platform strips or portions 2, 2, lying respectively between the lines 11,12, cross pieces or braces 17 1.7 are provided, intermediate which said portions 2, 2 are cut, as indicated by the full lines 18, 18 etc., to form the series or row of flap-like spacers or transverse partitions 19, 19, etc. The end spacers 19 of each row or series are preferably somewhat wider than the others, substantially as shown. The remaining spacers 19 are supported in pairs, each such pair being adapted to be folded downwardly along one of the transverse dotted lines 20, 20,

etc. to form a transverse partition, in the manner best seen in Fig. 10. A-cell or compartment for". the reception of one or more articles is thus formed between each of said dotted lines -20, 20, threecornered sections 21, 21, etc. being provided at diagonally op posed corners of each'cell, affording additional support for the spacers 19 and for i the articles to be received.

Desirably said spacers are not cut entire 1y through on the lines 19 but are left united by a portion of stock at one or more .the strips or members 3, 3, for example, the

member 3 at the left of the line 10. as indicated by th stippling in Fig. 1. The blank is then folded upon said line 10, marked w-a: in Fig. 1, for convenience in identifying it, one half or main section ofthe blank being doubled over flatu'ise upon the other half or main section, into the position illus trated in Figs. 2 and 3. In Fig. 3 the heavy line between the juxtaposed members 3, 3 indicates that said portions are glued or otherwise secured together flatwise.

Adhesive is next applied to the two laps 1, 1, both above and below the doubled blank as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the upper lap 1 being stippled in Fig.2 to indicate glue or other suitable adhesive. end portions of the carton blank, each including one of the portions 4. 5, 6 and 7, are then folded upon the respective lines 13, 13, identified by the mark w-w in Figs. 2 and 3, said portions being swung away from each other and folded in opposite directions over onto the respective carton sections 1,- 2, 3, assuming the position illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5. It will be observed that the inner faces of the upper portions of the side members 5, 5 are thus brought into contact with and secured to the respective portions or glue laps 1, 1.

The carton is then complete. In the flattened or collapsed form illustrated in Fi s. 4 or 5 the desired number of cartons may be compactly stacked or bundled for handling or shipment to the trade. Due to the flat form of the collapsed carton and the absence of all projections, cuts or other irregular formations the cartons are extremely easy to handle and are not readily damaged, with consequent great saving in labor and waste in bundling. Similar saving also follows by the avoidance of all separate fillers,-partitions or other pieces such as employed in devices such as disclosed, for example. in the patent to Carter 927,488 of July 13. 1909, my invention being an improvement in this and other substantial respects over the device of said patent.

In Fig. 6 I have illustrated a. carton in partially opened position preparatory to filling the same. The two opposed main portions of the carton are grasped and opened outwardly and downwardly, substantially in the manner of opening a book. The two portions 1, 1 if not previously entirely separated along the line 10 during the The two opposed course of manufacture, readily become separated during the opening of the carton. In Fig. 7 a carton is shown in open position for .filling, said figure also clearly illustrating the manner of closing the carton cover or covers.

When it is desired to close the carton the opposed cover portions are preferably depressed into substantially the dotted line position illustrated in Fig. 7, the flaps or tucks 7 being brought into contact. Upon further .depressing said cover portions, it will be found that at a certain predetermined point they will spring down into closed position. Their main portions 6, 6 then lie in substantially the same plane and are automatically locked or retained in said position. The cover portions 6 and 7 are so constructed and arranged that said self-locking action occurs approximately at the time when the lower portions of the tucks 7, indicated by the letter a, Fig. 7, cross a horizontal plane adjacent the tops of the carton sides, indicated by the line a, b in said figure. The main cover portions 6, 6 have a width somewhat exceeding that of the floor portions 4, 4. Due to said relative dimensions and the described relations of the parts the above self-locking effect is produced, the opposite sides of the carton above the partition platform being sprung apart during the closing of the covers. a The maximum extent of such springing occurs substantially at the time the point 0 or other predetermined portion of the covers crosses a predetermined plane, herein represented by the line a, 6. Below such point the sides are permitted again to approach each other but still remain under sufficient tension to hold the cover closed, as seen in Fig. 8. The above self-locking effect is in the nature of a toggle-action in which the covers cross center during closing and are consequently automatically retained in closed but readily openable position. If desired the covers may be sealed by placing a strip of adhesive tape or the like across them.

It will be observed that the partition platforms 2, 2 lie in a plane substantially paral lel with and intermediate the bottom and cover portions of the carton. They are rigidly supported both along the sides and along the longitudinal central portion of the carton, being integral with the longitudinal partition members 3, 3, while the latter are secured together and themselves integral with the floor members 4. 4 respectively. In this manner the partition platforms are rigidly braced, the construction being such as to afford maximum strength at substantially the points upon the opposite sides of the carton at which it will ordinarily be grasped in handling. In these and other important respects above pointed out my invention constatutes an improvement upon the device disclosed in the patent to Stein 1,003,013, dated September 12, 1911. Said partition platforms 2, 2 are so located that the vertical distances between them and the cover or the floor respectively are less than the shortest I dimension of the articles to be received, such as eggs, whereby escape of said articles from one compartment to another or at the ends of the carton is wholly prevented.

It will now be understood that a carton embodying my invention may be inexpensively made and is extremely simple to manipulate both in packing flat for shipment and in setting up, filling and closing. Due to its regular formation it requires much less stock than cellular cartons of like size heretofore known. My invention is not limited to the provision of any particular number of cells or compartments. Obviously if less or more compartments of similar size are desired a narrower or wider blank may be employed. For example, a carton having a half-dozen cells may be formed from a blank substantially one half the width of that used in forming one-dozen-cell cartons. Ordinarily half-size cartons require approximately two-thirds the stock of a full-size carton. While the carton in accordance with my invention is preferably formed from a single blank, a filled carton may readily be separated longitudinally if it is desired to dispense but one-half the articles contained.

My invention is not limited to the illustra'tive embodiment thereof herein shown and described.

Claims.

1. A carton comprising bottom, opposite side and cover portions, a longitudinal, vertical partition integral with said bottom portion or portions, and a plurality of transverse members forming, before filling of the carton, a platform in a plane substantially parallel with and intermediate said bottom and cover portions, said transverse members being secured along their outer edges to said side portions and being integral at their inner edges with said longitudinal partition at opposite sides of the latter, said transverse members being adapted to be depressed to provide transverse partitions and cooperating with said longitudinal partition and side portions to form at each side of said longitudinal partition a row of compartments or cells for the reception of articles, the carton so formed being openable from and closable into flat position in the manner of a book.

2. A collapsible, cellular carton formed from a single-substantially rectangular blank having four continuous edges, said carton comprising opposed pairs of members or portions including bottom, outer side and hinged cover portions, transverse-partition platforms and longitudinal, vertical part1- tion members arranged to provide a pluralitiyof rows of cells for the reception of artic es.

A collapsible, cellular open-ended carton comprising a plurality of united, substantially similar but oppositely disposed main sections constructed and arranged to be folded together fiatwise and to be opened in the manner of a book, each such section including bottom, side and transverse partition forming portions providing a single row of cells or compartments, and cover means hingeably supported upon the carton in substantially the same horizontal plane.

4. In a cellular carton, a partition platform including a series of partitions formingdepressible flap-like members, each of the latter being out along a major portion of their periphery and supported by said platform along the remaining portion, and a readily rupturable union connecting each of said members at a cut portion thereof to the adjacent portion of the platform whereby said members are all held in the same plane until the carton is to be filled and the force with which the articles are inserted is cushioned or broken.

5. In a cellular carton, a partition platform 2 formed to provide a series of transverse-partition forming members 19, each of the latter being out along a major portion of their periphery, as at 18, and supported along the remaining portion, as at 20, at least one readily rupturable union 22 I at a cut portion of each of said members to hold the latter in the same plane untll the carton is tobe filled and effective to cushion or break the force with which the articles are inserted. p

, 6. A collapsible, cellular carton compris- 'ing two similar main sections oppositely disposed in side by side relation, each said section including bottom, cover and outer side members, and longitudinal vertical partitions of less height than said outer sides, said vertical partitions having transverse partition-forming members integral therewith extending outwardly at right angles therefrom at their upper edges, said partition-forming members being secured at their outer edges to the adjacent outer side member, said sections each providing in the formed carton a single series or row of article-receiving cells, said cover members bewardly in opposite directions from the transverse median line of the blank.

8. A collapsible, cellular carton formed from a single substantially rectangular blank providing opposed pairs of like members constituting respectively securing flaps 1, 1, transverse-partition platforms 2, 2, longitudinal partition portions 3, 3, floor portions 4:, 4, outer sides 5, 5 and covers 6, 7, 6, 7 in the order mentioned proceeding outwardly in opposite directions from the transverse median line of the blank, said covers being constructed and arranged to fold inwardly and downwardly so as to close into substantially the same plane and automatically to lock in said position.

9. A collapsible, cellular carton formed from a single substantially rectangular blank providing opposed pairs of like members constituting respectively securing flaps 1, 1, transverse-partition platforms 2, 2, longitudinal partition portions 3, 3, floor portions 4:, 4, outer sides 5, 5, covers 6, 7, 6, 7 in the order mentioned proceeding outwardly in opposite directions from the transverse median line of the blank, and

means 22, 22 for retaining the transverse partitions the plane of said platformsand for breaking the force with which articles are inserted.

10. A collapsible, cellular carton formed from a single substantially rectangular blank having its shorter dimension equal to the desired length of the carton, said blank being creased along parallel lines to provide at-each side of its transverse median line a cover, a side and a bottom portion, a longitudinal partition forming member, a transverse partition platform and securing means therefor, said longitudinal partition forming members being secured together fiatwise and said partition platforms secured to the opfiisite sides by said securing means, the

carton so formed being openable in the mantherefor, said longitudinal partition forming members being secured together flatwise and 'said partition platforms secured to the opposite sides by said securing means, the carton so formed being openable in the manner of a book and assuming filling position without further manipulation, said covers being foldable inwardly and locking in closed position with a toggle-like act-ion.

12. In a cellula carton having bottom and opposite side portions, a longitudinal vertical partition integral with said bottom portion, and a plurality of transverse platform members, said transverse members being secured along their outer edges to said side portions and at their inner edges to said longitudinal partition at opposite sides of the latter, the combination therewith of a pair of opposed cover elements hingeabl'y supported, one at the upper edge of each of said opposite side portions, the combined widths of said cover elements exceeding the width of the carton adjacent their point of attachment thereto whereby an emphasized toggle-like action between said covers is afforded bywhich they are automatically retained in closed position, rendering ties, interengaging tongues and slots, .or other additional cover-securing means unnecessary. 1 g

In testimony whereof,I have slgned my name to this specification. A

ARTHUR W.- SCOTGHER. 

